OPT Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs
Licensed Practical Nurse jobs on OPT require active state licensure, which means passing the NCLEX-PN before you can work. Most LPN roles qualify as STEM-adjacent through healthcare CIP codes, and many hospital systems and long-term care facilities have sponsored OPT students before.
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The LPN is responsible for performing a wide variety of nursing care, patient activities, and accommodative services for the comfort and well-being of patients in accordance with physicians' orders and under the guidance and direction of the Registered Nurse.
Responsibilities
- Performs basic nursing care and patient procedures as required.
- Participate in conferences and serves on Committees as requested.
- Observes, reports, and documents in the patient chart changes in patient's condition, observations made, and complaints voiced and nursing care performed.
- Participates in patient and family health education as necessary.
- Provides a safe and secure environment for the patient.
- Prepares for and assists with diagnostic and therapeutic treatments.
- May administer I.V.F. in accordance with state Nurse Practice Act.
- Checks, irrigates and maintains drainage tubes as needed.
- May insert N/G tubes after training. (KY & VA).
- May administer tube feedings.
- Suctions patients according to hospital policy and procedure.
- Functions in emergencies and on the code team as designated.
- Performs catheterizations and provides catheter care.
- Administers oral and intra-muscular, intradermal, subcu, I.V., PB, and medications as approved.
- Administers I.V.P. medications as approved. (In Virginia only).
- Cares for patients receiving oxygen therapy and analyses oxygen concentration of 02 tents, isolette and croupettes.
- Administers respiratory treatments (I.P.P.B.).
- Applies sterile and unsterile compresses and bandages of all types and styles.
- Answers call lights, assist patients with personal hygiene and other activities of daily living.
- Tests urine for sugar, acetone, and ph., weighs patients, and takes vital signs.
- Cares for patients in isolation.
- Assists with physical and vaginal examinations and obtaining pap smears.
- Administers post-operative regime: cough, deep breathing, turn patients, and takes vital signs.
- Prepares patients for surgery, including pre-op check lists.
- Applies ace bandages, all types of traction, hot water bottle and ice cap.
- Measures and records intake and output.
- Collects specimens; blood, urine, stool and sputum.
- Administers post-mortuum care and transportation.
- Administers enemas: retention, cleansing, therapeutic, colonic, irrigation.
- Maintains cleanliness, safety and efficiency in nursing.
- Alert to and able to respond appropriately in an emergency situation, providing patient care, initiating CPR and any other tasks designated by the RN or MD.
- Assists with the care and security of the patients' valuables.
- Checks narcotics and barbiturates reports discrepancies, completes incident report appropriately and submits to appropriate management.
- Cares for patients with radium and assists physician with removal of radium.
- Prepares used equipment for re-sterilization.
- Cleans and maintains storage of equipment. Request repairs, follow-up with physician and other staff as appropriate regarding equipment performance.
- Comply with hospital policies for obtaining, documenting and follow through on telephone and verbal orders.
- Monitors glucose via glucose monitor machine
- Collects Quality Improvement data as requested.
- Uses universal precautions.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing.
- Must maintain current licensure in state of practice.
- Must successfully complete the I.V. Therapy Course.
- Technical skills in special nursing fields preferred.
- Six (6) months to one (1) year on-the-job training is required to attain proficiency of performance of assigned duties.
Overview
The LPN is responsible for performing a wide variety of nursing care, patient activities, and accommodative services for the comfort and well-being of patients in accordance with physicians' orders and under the guidance and direction of the Registered Nurse.
Responsibilities
- Performs basic nursing care and patient procedures as required.
- Participate in conferences and serves on Committees as requested.
- Observes, reports, and documents in the patient chart changes in patient's condition, observations made, and complaints voiced and nursing care performed.
- Participates in patient and family health education as necessary.
- Provides a safe and secure environment for the patient.
- Prepares for and assists with diagnostic and therapeutic treatments.
- May administer I.V.F. in accordance with state Nurse Practice Act.
- Checks, irrigates and maintains drainage tubes as needed.
- May insert N/G tubes after training. (KY & VA).
- May administer tube feedings.
- Suctions patients according to hospital policy and procedure.
- Functions in emergencies and on the code team as designated.
- Performs catheterizations and provides catheter care.
- Administers oral and intra-muscular, intradermal, subcu, I.V., PB, and medications as approved.
- Administers I.V.P. medications as approved. (In Virginia only).
- Cares for patients receiving oxygen therapy and analyses oxygen concentration of 02 tents, isolette and croupettes.
- Administers respiratory treatments (I.P.P.B.).
- Applies sterile and unsterile compresses and bandages of all types and styles.
- Answers call lights, assist patients with personal hygiene and other activities of daily living.
- Tests urine for sugar, acetone, and ph., weighs patients, and takes vital signs.
- Cares for patients in isolation.
- Assists with physical and vaginal examinations and obtaining pap smears.
- Administers post-operative regime: cough, deep breathing, turn patients, and takes vital signs.
- Prepares patients for surgery, including pre-op check lists.
- Applies ace bandages, all types of traction, hot water bottle and ice cap.
- Measures and records intake and output.
- Collects specimens; blood, urine, stool and sputum.
- Administers post-mortuum care and transportation.
- Administers enemas: retention, cleansing, therapeutic, colonic, irrigation.
- Maintains cleanliness, safety and efficiency in nursing.
- Alert to and able to respond appropriately in an emergency situation, providing patient care, initiating CPR and any other tasks designated by the RN or MD.
- Assists with the care and security of the patients' valuables.
- Checks narcotics and barbiturates reports discrepancies, completes incident report appropriately and submits to appropriate management.
- Cares for patients with radium and assists physician with removal of radium.
- Prepares used equipment for re-sterilization.
- Cleans and maintains storage of equipment. Request repairs, follow-up with physician and other staff as appropriate regarding equipment performance.
- Comply with hospital policies for obtaining, documenting and follow through on telephone and verbal orders.
- Monitors glucose via glucose monitor machine
- Collects Quality Improvement data as requested.
- Uses universal precautions.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing.
- Must maintain current licensure in state of practice.
- Must successfully complete the I.V. Therapy Course.
- Technical skills in special nursing fields preferred.
- Six (6) months to one (1) year on-the-job training is required to attain proficiency of performance of assigned duties.
See all 1,096+ OPT Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Licensed Practical Nurse
Get your state nursing license before applying
You cannot legally work as an LPN without passing the NCLEX-PN and holding an active license in the state where you'll practice. Apply for licensure immediately after graduation so your OPT start date aligns with license approval.
Target long-term care and rehabilitation facilities
Skilled nursing facilities, assisted living centers, and rehab hospitals hire LPNs in high volume and are more accustomed to working with international candidates on OPT than smaller outpatient clinics or private practices.
Confirm your program's CIP code qualifies for STEM OPT
Practical nursing programs under CIP code 51.3901 qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Verify this with your DSO before applying, since it gives employers a much longer authorization window and improves your hiring odds.
Address your OPT timeline upfront with nurse recruiters
Hospital recruiters screen candidates early on work authorization. Be direct about your OPT end date, whether STEM extension applies, and your H-1B visa eligibility timeline so recruiters can assess fit without ambiguity on either side.
Highlight clinical hours from your nursing program
Many LPN roles require verified clinical experience. List your supervised clinical rotations, patient contact hours, and any specialties covered during your program. This directly offsets the concern that international candidates lack domestic bedside experience.
Seek employers with established OPT or H-1B sponsorship history
Large hospital networks and national long-term care chains are more likely to have immigration counsel on retainer and prior experience sponsoring nurses. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers who have sponsored OPT workers in healthcare roles before.
Licensed Practical Nurse OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an LPN on OPT without a nursing license?
No. OPT authorizes you to work in your field of study, but state law still requires an active LPN license before you can practice. You must pass the NCLEX-PN and receive licensure approval from the state board before your start date. Applying before OPT begins is the best way to avoid a gap between authorization and eligibility.
Do LPN jobs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension?
Practical nursing programs under CIP code 51.3901 are on the STEM OPT eligible list, so graduates may qualify for the 24-month extension after their initial 12-month OPT period. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming eligibility. If you qualify, applying early gives your employer confidence you have a multi-year authorization window.
Which employers typically hire LPNs on OPT?
Large health systems, skilled nursing facilities, and national long-term care chains are the most consistent sources of LPN hiring for OPT students. These organizations employ nurses at scale, have HR teams familiar with work authorization, and are more likely to have sponsored international hires before. Browse Migrate Mate to find LPN roles from employers with documented OPT sponsorship history.
Can an LPN on OPT transition to H-1B sponsorship?
LPN roles are generally classified as requiring an associate-level education, which creates challenges for H-1B eligibility since that visa requires a bachelor's degree in a specialty occupation. Some nurses pursue an LPN-to-RN or BSN bridge program to qualify for H-1B or EB-3 sponsorship. Discussing a long-term pathway with your employer early in your OPT period is worth the conversation.
What happens to my LPN license if I change states during OPT?
Nursing licenses are state-specific. If you relocate for a new role, you must apply for licensure in the new state, either through endorsement or by retaking requirements if that state does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. The Nurse Licensure Compact allows multi-state practice for qualifying nurses, but not every state is a member. Check your current and target state's membership status before accepting a position.